Air register handle arrangement

Abstract

An air register handle (10) for mounting in an air register arrangement (12) to adjust the volume and/or direction of air flow through the register (12). The handle (10) includes a bracket (22) adapted to extend forwardly of a front plate (40) of the register (12). The bracket (22) is integral with a straight portion (20) adapted to extend rearwardly through a slot (44) on one side of the front plate (40). Handle tabs (24) extend from the straight portion (20) in a plane skewed relative to the plane of the straight portion (20). An arcuate flat portion (26) located rearwardly of the straight portion (20) comprises two arcuate arms (29) forming a slot (28) opening toward the rear of the handle (10). The slot (28) is adapted to receive a pintle (56) connected to a link (54) which interconnects a set of adjustable louvers (52).

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An air register handle adapted to be mounted in air register means for regulation of air flow through said air register means into a spatial environment, said air register means comprising: a frontal face through which air flows into or from said spatial environment;   slot means located in and extending through said frontal face and adapted to received said air register handle so that a portion of said handle protrudes forwardly of said frontal face; and   adjustable means mounted rearwardly of said frontal face so that movement of said adjustable means regulates volume and/or direction of air flow through said frontal face;   characterized in that said air register handle comprises:   a first portion adapted to extend through said slot means;   bracket means connected to said first portion and adapted to protrude forwardly of said frontal face for providing means for a user to manually grasp and operate said air register handle;   tab means interconnected with said first portion and having a planar configuration skewed relative to the planar configuration of said first portion for preventing any substantial movement of said handle forwardly toward said frontal face when said handle is mounted in said air register means, said tab means comprising the only elements of said air register handle preventing any substantial forward movement; and   coupling means connected to said first portion and coupled to said adjustable means for exerting forces on said adjustable means in response to manual forces exerted on said bracket means by said user when said handle is mounted in said air register means.   
     
     
       2. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said coupling means comprises a slot opening toward an end opposing an end of said first portion to which said bracket means is connected. 
     
     
       3. An air register handle in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said slot is of an arcuate shape. 
     
     
       4. An air register handle is accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said slot curves upwardly from said slot opening toward said first portion. 
     
     
       5. An air register handle in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said slot is formed by a pair of rearwardly extending and substantially coplanar arms having a fork-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       6. An air register handle in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said adjustable means of said air register means comprises interconnection means for interconnecting said adjustable means to said coupling means when said handle is mounted in said air register means, and said slot is adapted to receive said interconnection means so that said interconnection means moves along a path of said slot in response to manual forces exerted on said bracket means by said user. 
     
     
       7. An air register handle in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that said interconnection means comprises a pintle engaging said slot when said handle is mounted in said air register means. 
     
     
       8. An air register handle in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said adjustable means of said air register means comprises: louver means positioned rearwardly of said frontal face and adjustable so as to regulate air flow through said frontal face;   connecting means interconnecting individual ones of said louver means so as to provide operation of said individual ones of said louver means in unison;   pintle means coupled to said connecting means; and   said slot is adapted to received said pintle means when said handle is mounted in said air register means.   
     
     
       9. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said tab means comprises a pair of coplanar tabs having a resiliency sufficient so as to allow said tab pair to bend toward the plane of said first portion when forces are exerted on said handle so as to cause said handle to be moved through said slot means when said handle is installed in said air register means. 
     
     
       10. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said tab means comprises at least one tab adapted to abut a surface of said air register means so as to provide a frictional engagement therewith. 
     
     
       11. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said tab means comprises a first resilient tab positioned adjacent a first edge of said first portion and a second resilient tab substantially coplanar with said first tab and positioned adjacent a second edge of said first portion, where said second edge is substantially parallel to said first edge. 
     
     
       12. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that: said slot means comprises a vertically disposed and elongated slot located at one side of said frontal face; and   said bracket means comprises a bracket integral with said first portion and having a size sufficient so as to prevent said handle from being pushed rearwardly of said frontal face when said handle is mounted in said air register means.   
     
     
       13. An air register handle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that: said first portion comprises a straight flat portion adapted to extend through said slot means; and   said coupling means comprises an arcuate flat portion coplanar and integral with said first portion.   
     
     
       14. An air register handle in accordance with claim 13 characterized in that said arcuate flat portion is of a fork-shaped configuration having a pair of substantially parallel and arcuate arms forming a slot at an end of said handle. 
     
     
       15. An air register handle adapted to be mounted in air register means for regulation of air flow through said air register means into a spatial environment, said air register means comprising: a frontal face through which air flows into or from said spatial environment;   slot means located in and extending through said frontal face and adapted to receive said air register handle so that a portion of said handle protrudes forwardly of said frontal face; and   adjustable means mounted rearwardly of said frontal face so that movement of said adjustable means regulates volume and/or direction of air flow through said frontal face;   characterized in that said air register handle comprises;   a first portion adapted to extend through said slot means;   bracket means connected to said first portion and adapted to protrude forwardly of said frontal face for providing means for a user to manually grasp and operate said air register handle; and   handle slot means integral with and located rearwardly of said first portion, and comprising an arcuate flat portion having a fork-shaped configuration with a pair of substantially parallel and arcuate arms forming a slot opening toward an end opposing an end of said first portion to which said bracket means is connected.   
     
     
       16. An air register handle in accordance with claim 15 characterized in that said handle further comprises tab means interconnected with said first portion and having a planar configuration skewed relative to the planar configuration of said first portion for preventing any substantial movement of said handle forwardly toward said frontal face when said handle is mounted in said air register means. 
     
     
       17. An air register handle adapted to be mounted in air register means for regulation of air flow, said air register handle comprising: a forward bracket;   a substantially flat and straight portion extending rearwardly from said bracket and integral therewith;   an arcuate flat portion integral with said straight portion and having a fork-shaped configuration, whereby two substantially parallel and arcuate arms form an open slot at an end of said handle opposing an end of said straight portion to which said bracket is integrally connected; and   a pair of handle tabs connected to and extending above and below said straight portion, wherein said tabs are coplanar and positioned at an acute angle of less than 90° relative to a plane of said straight portion.   
     
     
       18. An air register and handle arrangement for regulation of air flow into or from a spatial environment, said arrangement comprising: a frontal face adapted to be mounted to a wall, floor or ceiling, and through which air flows into or from said spatial environment;   slot means located in and extending through said frontal face for receiving an air register handle of said arrangement;   adjustable means mounted rearwardly of said frontal face so that movement of said adjustable means regulates air flow through said face;   handle bracket means located forwardly of said face in said spatial environment for allowing a user to manually adjust said adjustment means;   a first portion connected to said handle bracket means and extending through said slot means;   tab means interconnected with said first portion for preventing substantial movement of said first portion toward said said frontal face, and comprising a pair of coplanar tabs having a resiliency sufficient so as to allow said tab pair to bend toward the plane of said first portion when said first portion is positioned in front of said frontal face and forces are exerted on said handle bracket means so as to cause said first portion to move through said slot means from the front of said frontal face to the rear of said frontal face; and   coupling means connected to said first portion and coupled to said adjustable means for exerting forces on said adjustable means in response to manual forces exerted on said handle bracket means by said user.   
     
     
       19. An air register arrangement in accordance with claim 18 characterized in that: said slot means comprises a vertically disposed and elongated slot extending through said frontal face along one side thereof;   said adjustable means comprises a plurality of substantially parallel louver-type elements, each of said elements having at least one end thereof pivotably engaged to a frame of said arrangement, and further having one end thereof pivotably engaged to a connecting link; and   said coupling means comprises an arcuate slot opening rearwardly of said frontal face and movably engaging a pintle-type element coupled to said connecting link.